The rotten injury luck that has cursed Hawthorn's AFL premiership defence has struck again.

Key forward Jarryd Roughead needs knee surgery and his season is over, while defender Trent Croad will have another operation on his foot.

Croad has not played this year after breaking his foot in last year's grand final.

It emerged earlier this week that Croad would not play this season.

The Hawks have received medical advice that Croad must have some bones fused, not just to give him a chance of playing in the AFL again but for his quality of life after his career is over.

The bad news again raises fears that Croad's career might be over.

But Hawks football manager Mark Evans said the club wanted to wait until after the surgery before considering Croad's footballing future.

"First things first, he needs to have the surgery," Evans said.

Croad is due to undergo the operation later this week.

"Scans revealed signs of wear, boney weaknesses and loose bodies in some of the joints in his foot," the club said in a statement.

"While he has been in skills training for the past five weeks, he has been unable to consistently increase his loads and intensity to a level that would allow him to play."

The Hawks are only one game out of eighth spot, but they will also have to try to make the finals without Roughead.

He was originally diagnosed with a leg muscle injury after Saturday's upset loss to St Kilda in Launceston.

But the club revealed Roughead had suffered cartilage damage.

"Jarryd will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his knee later this week after suffering a lateral meniscus tear," the club said.

Roughead and Lance Franklin are one of the league's most feared key forward duos.

Brad Sewell missed the Launceston game with a corked quad, but he is set to return for Friday night's must-win game against Adelaide at the MCG.

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